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Fighting Against Spyware & Malware (Continued)
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What can I do to prevent malware?
First, do your Windows Updates. Do them automatically, even if you use a dialup connection.
Run an up-to-date anti-virus program, and keep it up to date. Get your antivirus signatures automatically. Manually check for program updates occasionally, as these don't always update automatically.
Run a program that monitors and blocks attempts to install spyware, adware or other malware. Ad-Aware SE is one such program. Note that this is the paid version, not the free "personal" version, which handles after-the-fact only. Other commercial spyware/malware blockers can help similarly.
Some programs like WinPatrol monitor various aspects of your browser and related settings so that corrections can easily be made after a problem has occurred.
Finally, you can choose to run a different web browser than the highly-targeted Internet Explorer, such as target="_blank"Firefox, Mozilla Suite or Opera. None of these interfere with Internet Explorer -- you can still keep it on your system, use it when you want or need to, and can even have any or all of these running at the same time.
You can run an email program other than the targets Outlook and Outlook Express. Eudora and Thunderbird are alternate email programs you could use.
How can I identify and remove malware from my computer?
There are several free and commercial programs that are designed to remove spyware, adware and other malware. Some examples are Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster and Ad-Aware SE Personal.
Spybot S&D and SpywareBlaster are free. Ad-Aware SE Personal is free for personal use -- use by non-profits and businesses requires the purchased version. The biggest challenge with these programs is deciding if you want them to remove everything that they find.
CounterSpy is my choice for always-running and periodic anti-spyware / anti-adware scans.
An excellent tool for diagnosis of installed programs is WinPatrol, which is free. There is a $20 charge if you want to subscribe to their information database to help you decide whether to allow individual programs to startup automatically, but the program itself is free. You can always use Google to find out about program files -- just enter the filename in Google's search box and you should find plenty of references.
Microsoft's beta anti-spyware product
Microsoft has a beta version of its new anti-spyware/anti-malware program for download directly from Microsoft. Microsoft recently bought GIANT AntiSpyware on which this is based. Microsoft's main page at www.microsoft.com has a link to the beta.
The email newsletters that I have seen, so far, have recommended trying this beta. Bill Gates announced in February 2005 that the Microsoft anti-spyware program would be available free and that there would be an enhanced version available (presumably at a charge) for network administrators.
I have been using Microsoft's Antispyware, but have recently become disgusted by Microsoft's changed recommendation on several adware systems to "ignore" from "quarantine." This happened about the same time Microsoft was rumored to be in negotiations for purchase of one of these adware systems. As a result, I have changed to Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy, which is priced at very reasonable $20.
Sunbelt Software's Counterspy
As my full–time antispyware/antiadware tool, I have changed to Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy. I continue to use Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy to do occasional scans.
Sunbelt Software has a CounterSpy 15-day free trial available from their website.
ParetoLogic's XoftSpy SE
The anti-spyware program XoftSpy SE, from ParetoLogic, is designed to perform systems scans upon request and to automatically remove adware, spyware, trojans, hijackers, worms, popup generators and more. A special trial version is available that will scan, but not clean, your computer for free. Available via electronic download, Xoftspy can be purchased directly from ParetoLogic's web site. Download XoftSpy and Scan Your PC for Free!
Link to this page — just add this code to your web page!
<a href="http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/malware-2.php">Fighting Against Spyware & Adware</a>
Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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